Tuesday, May 25, 2010

In the final chapter, Fitzpatrick encourages us to keep going on the journey of learning to please God with our eating habits. While this is not an easy process, she encourages us to strive towards a heart that reflects Jesus.

In our relationship of learning to please God, she points out similarities in differences with a marriage relationship. Similarly, learning to please your spouse and God is a learning process. You may know that you love them both, but it takes time to figure out how to love them. As well, in both relationships, learning involves more than just knowing what to do, it is doing it with action.

But loving God is also very different from loving a spouse. There is no need to second guess what God needs or wants, because He gives us answers in the Bible. While we may misunderstand or miscommunicate with a spouse, God always provides us with answers in His Word. God also knows our heart, when no one else can. Even in our weakness, God can see the motives of our heart and blesses us when we try to do right, even when we fall short.

When we strive to please God we will always be blessed. A spouse may have sinful motives for asking us to do something, but God never does. As we obey God's word, we learn how to please Him, thus bringing about blessings in our life. God's word is filled with promises that he will reward us with blessing when we obey Him.

Learning to please God is an long, ongoing journey. In Colossians 1:9-12, Paul speaks of this process, knowing that we don't have much knowledge of God when we become believers, but praying that each Christian would gain it.

The journey is hard and many temptations lay along the path. Fitzpatrick points out encouragement in Isaiah 41:10, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Fitzpatrick states, "When you're sorely tempted to give up, when you think it just isn't worth it, when you start to believe the lie that you'll never change, remember this verse. If you are His child, He promises that He is with you - to strengthen, help and uphold you."

If you are struggling now, take heart. Hebrews 12:11 states, "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." When God disciplines us it is meant for a greater purpose that is for our good. You can be encouraged that when God disciplines us, it is because we belong to Him. As we trust in Him through the pain, he will produce a crop of righteousness and peace in our lives that will overflow to others.

You can find encouragement to finish the journey you have started in these Scripture verses...

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." (1 Corinthians 9:24) Run the race to please Him and to not be distracted by anything else!

Hebrews 12:1-3 says,

"Since we have a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet ad trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us. Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards; and now he sits in the place of honor by the throne of God. If you want to keep from becoming fainthearted and weary, think about his patience as sinful men did such terrible things to him."

Consider what this Scripture is saying...

"... a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands..."

Imagine all those who have gone before you, cheering you on. Picture Moses saying, "I know what it's like, I wandered in the desert for 40 years, but God kept His promise to me."

"...strip off everything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up..."

Hopefully you can identify the thoughts in your mind that trip you up. As you identify those areas that cause you to struggle, strip them off.

"... let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us..."

This journey will take time, but what better than to be running the race towards Jesus. Your life will be over in the blink of an eye so take heart in knowing that this struggle won't last forever. While this life is short, don't waste time wishing that you didn't have this pain in your life, or that you struggled with something different. God knows all about you and knows that you can learn through this trial.

"... keep your eyes set on Jesus..."

Don't look anywhere but at Jesus - not yourself or those around you. He suffered, bled and died for you. He took on your sin so that you could live in peace and joy.

The book ends with this prayer that you can offer to God...

"I hunger and thirst, my Lord, only for you. I long for my entire being-my heart, my mind, my emotions, my body-to glorify you and bring you joy. I put aside the meager pleasures of this life, especially those that I find in eating, and desire only you. You are my chief joy, my wonderful Shepherd. you've spread a banqueting table before me and I anxiously await the time when I'll be there, with you. Until then, I pledge to patiently run towards You, shunning anything that would keep me from my goal or cloud my sight. Keep me in your loving arms, my Father. I'm on my way home."

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Our Purpose:

We are faced with choices every day. We have the choice to become enslaved to the world's idea of love and acceptance or we can choose to accept God's unconditional love by faith through Jesus Christ. What choice are you making?

This is a place for those struggling and recovering from eating disorders to find solace in the Cross. As a community of believers we can support one another in the struggles that we face. We can also share in the joy of our victories, together. It is in Him that we have the strength to live fully surrendered to His purposes for our life.

Make the choice today to find freedom in Christ!

Theme Scriptures

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

"In reference to your former manner of life, lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."

Care Ministry...

The Care Ministry at Daybreak also partners with the Wellspring Center.

The Wellspring Center offers formational prayer and the opportunity to explore stress, depression, failure, hurts, anxieties, and habits that hold you back from experiencing true inner peace and joy. An experience at Wellspring opens you up to the guidance of God's spirit as you connect with the healing power of Jesus Christ.

For more information or to make an appointment, contact Daybreak Church at...

phone: 717-791-1200 X111

wellspringcenter@comcast.net

Changed Lives

We would love to feature your changed life story here!

We all have a story about God's goodness in taking us from broken to redeemed. If you have a story to share of a changed life or comments about the lessons God is teaching you along the way, leave a comment with your name and email address so that I can contact you.

Your changed life can reflect and reveal Christ to others. Share it!

What Are We Doing Right Now?

We're reading through Love to Eat, Hate to Eat by Elyse Fitzpatrick. Read weekly updates or follow along with your own copy. Feel free to post your own comments as we read!